Find Your Way Home - Part 1
"Find Your Way Home"
A Sequel to "Even Standing"
Part 1/? - "Back To Ground Zero"

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters here, save for the Scepter of Zeus... please don't sue me, I don't intend to earn money from this unless I'm offered a contract by the Buffy people... then I can toss this disclaimer out the window anyway.
Rating (Series): PG-13 (a little language and violence... its like ES, not too heavy on either, but enough to warrant a rating)
Spoilers: Same as ES... continuity diverges.
Author's Notes/Summary - In the aftermath of Quinn's defeat, Xander is left right back where he started. An outsider. When he gets back to his motel room, he finds an envelope which will place a very heavy decision in his hands.
Note #2 - Here it is, the sequel to my previous fic Even Standing(ES). I've got a pretty set course in mind, but if along the way you come to a revelation that you think could make the fic *even better* please do not hesitate in sending it in an email. Feedback is the lifeblood of fic writers. And it is *you* the reader who help keep us writers doing what we do. I'm sure we(fanfic writers) would all agree you people are the best friends we could ever have without really knowing. :)

*FADE TO: Xander, stuffing his small amount of possessions into an equally small suitcase.*

The envelope kept grabbing his attention. It sat on the small round table near the door, but still, his eyes wandered to it as he packed. He was mentally debating whether to look at it's contents now, or waiting until he was out of town. He had a feeling that whatever was in the envelope would effect his decision of where to go.
Against his better judgement, he strode across the dingy motel room and grabbed the deceptively plain white envelope. He observed his name scribbled across the front, in handwriting he didn't recognize. It was slightly thick, but not very heavy. Maybe a secret admirer had written him a letter. He laughed, bitterness evident.
He ripped the letter open along the top, and fished the contents out. A small slip of paper, along with a typed letter. He opted to read the letter first, in hopes of an explanation:

"Dear Mr. Harris;

You're probably wondering just what this is. We have foreseen the events with 'Quinn' and the Slayer, and have been greatly saddened by his loss. We also regret hearing of your resignation with the Powers. We are in debt for your services in the time you were employed by us. In light of the events of the past few weeks, we have seen it fit to supply you with both your own pension payments, as well as those of Quinn, lump sum, as he will be unable to collect. We suggest you spend this money wisely, as this is likely the last contact we will have with you. No refunds applicable.

Respectfully,
The Powers That Be"

Xander read the letter over again, trying to grasp just what it said. After a few moments, he cautiously glanced at the other slip of paper from the envelope, a check written out to him. He didn't quite know how to react to the sum. He couldn't even count it in his head. He did, however, take note of the memo blank near the bottom corner. It read simply, 'Stay In Sunnydale'

*CUT TO: Giles apartment. Everyone but Xander and Spike are there.*

Buffy repeatedly pounded an old book, "Dammit, dammit... how could we not see him go?"
"We were, um, quite distracted, Buffy." Giles said, not wishing to retouch the Spike issue, because he feared he might lose it again.
"Distracted my ass... he just walked away, Giles!" She tried to hide the fact she *did* see him go, and even *let* him go.
"And he took my car... again..." Angel added quietly, earning him a glare from everyone in the room, even Cordelia.
"Buffy..." Giles started, bringing the focus back to the Slayer, "...Yes, we may have not noticed him leave... but there is not much we can do, it is evident he doesn't wish to be around the group anymore..."
Cordelia spoke up suddenly, "Maybe he thinks *we* don't want him to be part of us anymore... I for one remember treating him like crap sometimes." She admitted, "He might want to skip town cause he thinks we don't need him."
"Well, he did try to kills us." Tara pointed out.
Willow frowned, "Does anybody else notice how this resembles someone else we know?"
"Faith." Buffy said, shortly.
Willow nodded, "And what did she do when she thought the Mayor was her only ally?"
"She stayed bad." Angel answered.
Giles was pinching the bridge of his nose, "Perhaps it would be in our best interests to track Xander down and extend our hands to help... in order to prevent this all from..."
Cordy interrupted him, "...Coming back to bite us in the ass?"
Giles nodded, awkwardly, "Maybe not in such colorful words, but yes."
Willow hopped up, "He might still be at that hotel we checked out... we have the address somewhere."
When Willow was done fishing it out of her purse, Buffy immediately snatched it from her hand, "Great, I'll go check it out..."
Giles grabbed it right after she did, "Buffy, it's still nighttime, perhaps it would be best..."
Buffy grew instantly angry, "What? To wait until morning? No! He could be gone by then."
Giles gave her an authoritative glare which made her shrivel, "No, what I meant to say, is that with it still being dark... it would be best if Angel, Cordelia, and I to try to persuade him to stay. He may not have the best reaction to you, Buffy. Any of us, really, but to you he may react rashly."
Buffy glared, but knew it wouldn't hold up long with Giles, "So what am *I* supposed to do?"
Giles prepared to leave with Angel and Cordelia, "I need you to remain here and research with Willow and Tara."
"I'm delegated to research duty? Since when..." Another Giles glare hit her, "Okay, okay..." She exaggeratively grabbed a book and started reading.
"Good." Giles said, pulling on his coat, "This should hopefully not take long." He said finally, as he motioned for Angel and Cordelia to follow him.

*CUT TO: Xander walking out the door of his hotel room. He has his things with him, and he's staring intently at the check in his hand. He doesn't notice Spike sitting on the hood of Angel's car.*

"Hey, mate. What you got there?" He asked casually. Xander jumped, pointing his hand at the vampire. Spike rolled his eyes, "Oh, right, that's going to work. What are you going to do, paper cut me to death?"
Xander realized he was trying to use the check as a weapon, and grumbled to himself, "I'm busy, Spike. I have to get to the bank. Now."
"Wouldn't it be a *hell* of a lot easier to take the ride instead of walking?" He motioned towards his current seating place.
Xander shook his head, "It's not mine... I'm giving it back."
Spike hopped off the car, "You really don't make a good bad guy. You know that, don't you?"
Xander smirked, "Oh, and I suppose *you* do, eh Rudolph?"
Spike glared, "Whatever the bloody hell you're talking about, I'd kindly like it if you stopped. My point is, Harris, you've gotta take what you want on this here planet. 'Give it back' ain't in the bad guy vocabulary."
"Spike! I'm not a bad guy anymore. That ended with the bubbling mess that *is* Quinn. I'm back to being Joe Normal now."
Spike sneered, "Joe Normal with a rather precious ring on his finger, eh?" He laughed, "You could fetch a lot of cash for that thing on the black market. I could hook you up to some contacts."
Xander looked at his hand. He was still wearing the Gem of Amara on his ring finger, "After I cash this check, I'm not going to need more money for a *long* time."
Spike sobered up a bit, "Well, I hate to inform you... but you're monetary expenditure is going to have to wait until morning. Most banks don't have midnight withdrawal, not even the blood bank... legally anyway." He grinned.
Xander looked at him curiously, "Monetary expenditure, Spike? You've been watching way too much Dawson's Creek."
Spike growled, "It's not my fault the bleeding teenagers are written like Harvard graduates. Besides, wouldn't you prefer the phrase 'monetary expenditure' to 'cashing a bloody check'?" His grin returned.
"Whatever..." Xander dismissed the vampire and prepared to leave anyway, "I'm out of here..."
"Please don't." Spike squeaked out, before the Giles-mobile pulled into the lot and quickly cut off the exit.

*CUT TO: Giles, Angel, and Cordelia climbing out of the convertible. They cautiously approach him.*

Xander had a look about him similar to a deer caught in a car's headlights. He didn't know whether to run away, or just brace himself for an impact.
"Please, Xander... don't run away." Giles pleaded. None of them seemed armed, but Xander didn't relax at all.
Spike observed the situation, and threw in his comment, "Right now, I don't believe he could if he tried."
"We're not here to hurt you, Xander." Cordy tried to explain.
"Then what *are* you here for? The big group hug scene?"
Angel looked as disconcerted as Xander did, "We don't want you to leave. We don't want to make the same mistake with you that we did with Faith."
"Compare him to Faith. Way to start a convincing argument." Spike jabbed.
"Please shut up, Spike." Giles growled, "Xander... we simply don't want you to think we're so apt to abandon you. What happened with Quinn, we aren't going to hold it against you."
"Are you all really so quick to forgive me? I tried to kill you. Things are never going to be the same."
"Think, Xander. You *tried.* Did you go through with it?" Angel didn't offer him time to reply, "No. That's what separates you from the *real* bad guys. If you don't let us help you, that line might disappear. You can't go back then."
Xander still hadn't moved since they arrived, "What do you want from me?"
Cordelia answered, in a tone that was full of deep concern, "Just promise us you'll keep in touch. And that you'll come to us if you need help. And that you'll help us when we need it too."
"I don't know if I can do that..." He said lowly.
"Xander, you can't go... we all love you..." Cordelia pleaded.
"Even me..." Angel said, reluctantly. Giles nodded his assent.
Spike started clapping, "Oh, how touching..."
"Spike..." Three voices warned.
"Right... switching back to 'lurk-so-you-don't-get-staked' mode..." He went back to sitting on Angel's car.
"Look..." Xander started. He gave a good long look at the check in his hand, "I'm not leaving town... but, I don't know if I'm going to be able to keep up on the other two promises. Things are different now."
Giles looked sad, "I suppose that's all we can really ask of you."
Cordelia was determined, "But don't think we won't drop by your place from time to time. Y'know... with all hopes going to you giving us your address and all."
"Cordy..." Angel said softly, pulling her back to him. She didn't resist.
Xander folded the check up and put it in his jacket pocket, "That's something I want to talk about... umm, I've got no quarrels about the whole thing going on with you two... but you both gotta remember the 'no hanky-panky' rule." They both nodded, "Cause as fond as my memories of our relationship *aren't,* that doesn't mean I want you dead in any way, shape, or form, Cord."
Cordelia smirked, "Glad to be so appreciated." She glanced at Angel quickly, "I think I need to take back the rights to 'Cord.' This guy is growing quite fond of it, and a few others too."
Xander nodded, "Understood..."
Angel treaded lightly, "Umm... my car?"
Xander laughed, pointing behind him, "Knock Peroxide off the hood, and it's yours again. Keys are in the front seat." He waited for Spike to climb off the car, "I'll be seeing you guys." He looked to Spike, "C'mon, Spike... let's go apartment shopping."
Spike looked surprised, "Why me?"
Xander tried to hide the amusement in his face, "I figure I'm gonna need somebody to keep me sane and on the 'good' side... and I figure there's nobody better than *you.*" Even Giles and Angel began laughing at that.
Spike glared, "Oh, that is low, Harris. Not quite low enough, but still low." He tried to ignore the laughter, but even found himself releasing a slight chuckle, "Let's go... the morning paper won't be delivered for a few hours... we can get some good killing in before then."
Xander nodded, "Sounds like a plan to me." They headed off, as Giles went to his car, and Angel went to his. Cordelia looked on after Xander, until he and Spike were out of sight. Angel pulled up next to her in the car, and she climbed in.

End Part 1